Morocco announces re-launch of Moukawalati programme

18/02/2009

In the hopes of easing the bureaucratic hurdles involved in setting up small businesses, Morocco re-launched a more accessible Moukawalati programme.

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 18/02/09

[File] Moroccan Economic Minister Nizar Baraka says the revamped Moukawalati is central to the government's employment initiative.

The Moroccan government revealed a new strategy for the Moukawalati programme recently, aiming to restore the development initiative's original promise. Hafid Kamal, head of the National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills (ANAPEC) discussed the proposed changes at a press conference in Casablanca on February 9th. The re-launch of the 18-month old programme aims to give it a new impetus and to adjust it to better fit applicants' expectations.

The programme will now have "more chances of success, especially as this is a major undertaking which sits at the very heart of the government's eager policy to promote employment," said Economic and General Affairs Minister Nizar Baraka.

The programme will be opened up to all those submitting projects, and no longer just to those with formal qualifications, as was the case in the past.

"The entrepreneurial spirit does not come from qualifications," explained Kamal.

The number of Moukawalati application offices will be expanded from 115 to 183. The number of advisers will increase; with 112 new advisers being trained and further training being given to 22 others already in post. All Moukawalati service providers will be given the necessary teaching tools and materials. Bank branches will also be brought up to speed. A single contact person will be identified at each bank.

A communication campaign will offer success stories to the general public as a way to re-introduce the programme. The country's audiovisual media, written press, posters and informational meetings for those submitting projects will disseminate information about the programme until May. Furthermore, a new programme portal will be launched and a call centre established.

It is hoped that the re-launch of Moukawalati will restore youth confidence in the project, which was hampered by bureaucracy and other obstacles.

Hamid Marbouhi was hoping to submit a project to Moukawalati, but a friend's experience with the programme put him off.

"Noureddine presented his project to the bank," Marbouhi told Magharebia. "After several months of complex proceedings, his project was rejected. So I would rather save my time and effort. I also heard about other cases which were accepted but the financing came too late."

"Young people must be spurred into action if the programme is to be successful," stated Minister of Employment and Vocational Training Jamal Aghmani. "At present, there are few applicants, yet there is a real desire for the programme to be a success. Young people must realise how extremely important it is to get some training before throwing themselves into their project."

Aghmani noted that banks are starting to open up. To increase awareness among banks, their professional organisation has encouraged branches to respect programme procedures and involve themselves in local technical committees. Under Moukawalati, 85% of every bank loan is guaranteed by the central guarantee fund (CCG).

The Moukawalati programme is the first self-employment programme to involve decision-makers, public bodies, banks and civil society to help entrepreneurs set up projects and promote SME's.

Although the objective was to create 30,000 small businesses by 2008, these target numbers are far from having been achieved. Only 2,000 small businesses have thus far been financed; 526 projects were accepted in 2007 and 1,624 in 2008.